Scow.



PATENTED FEB. 14, 1905.

G. KUHN.

' SGOW.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 782,567. PATBNTED FEB. 1 1905.

G. KUHN.

SGOW.

AYPLIOATIOIN FILED JULY 5. 1904.

2 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

parts in a difierent position.

useful material.

UNITED STATES Patented February 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

SCOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,567, dated February 14, 1905.

Application filed July 5, 1904. SeriaLNo. 215,280.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs KUHN, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Scows, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in scows. Its objects are to provide a dump- 'scow of relatively great capacity and which will not spill its contents in transit, and which can be dumped and returned to its loading position by a single deck-hand, and which will discharge all of its contents and be selfflushing, and one which can be readily converted into a deck-scow, and to attain certain other advantages which will hereinafter appear. These objects are efi'ected by constructing a catamaran-hull of a scow of two preferably cylindric pontoons, to which are attached aprons that form the bottom of the scow, the

pontoons being pivotally secured to the sides;

of the superstructure and by features of construction as herein described.

While mys'cow may be provided, if desired,

with means for self-propulsion, steering apparatus, and the like,|I have omitted all these well-known devices from the drawings.

Figure l is a top plan view of my device; Fig. 2, a section through the vertical plane 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section through the plane of Fig. 2, showing the Fig. 4 is a plan View of my device as converted for carrying Fig. 5 is, a section through the vertical plane 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section through the vertical 'plane 6 6, Fig. 5.

. Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, 1 1 designate the pontoons, shown as cylindric in cross-section. These are provided with pivot-engaging straps 11 and with rigidly-attached lateral and approximately tangential extensions or aprons 12, which are shown as of the same length as the pontoonbodies 1. I have shown the aprons 12 as formed with integral braces 13, the apron and brace forming a V-shaped open-end ed trough, the lower portion of the brace 13 being pref- .erablypierced along its length with a series of apertures 14. It is evident that any form of braces which will support the aprons 12 and maintain their rigidity may be used.

The'superstructure of the scow is essentially a framework comprising vertical sides 2, pivoted at 21 to the pontoons 1, and ends 22, having downwardly-projecting V-shaped portions adapted to fit against the bottoms or aprons 12, as shown in Fig. 2. Forward and after decks 23 24 may be built on the frame, one of which may be provided with towing-bits 25 and the other with a deck-house or galley 26. To protect the operating mechanisms from injury, cross-partitions 27 may be placed near the ends 22, forming Wells 3. an additional well 3 midships of the scow, and it is obvious that this may be omitted or duplicated, as the length of the scow or the work required of her shall dictate to the constructing engineer. In each of the wells 3 is mounted a drum 31, on which are wound two chains 32 or the like, each extending to an eyebolt 15 in the apron 12. On the drum 31 is a ratchetgear 33, with which engages the dog 34 of a pivoted hand-lever 35. The lever may be provided with a latch 36 for holding the dog out of engaging position, as shown in Fig; 3.

Pivoted on the partition 27 i'sa block 4, having a pawl 41, also adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet 33. To the block 4 is attached one end of acord,chain, or wire 42, which passes over suitable guide-idlers 43 44 45 to a drum 46, operated by a hand-lever 47. drum is shown as placed'in the midships well 30f the scow. Anywell-known means a. g., such as the ratchet and pawl shown on the drum 31may be used to preventimproper rotation of the drum 46. A lock-bar 5, mounted in suitable guides 51 on the partition 27, is shown as detachably engaging with the block 4 to hold the pawl 41 against the pinion 33. The operation of my device will be readily understood from an inspection of the drawings. shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the aprons 12 are drawn up by the chains 32 closely against the ends 22 of the frame. The drums 31, on which the chains 32 wind, will be held from rotation .by the pawl 41 on the block 4, which is in This I have shown When the pawls are in the position turn held by the cord or like connection 42, as well as by the lock-bar 5. The scow is nowready to load and to steam or be towed to sea or to a convenient dumping-ground. When this is reached, the deck-hand raises the dogs 34, latches them out of operative position, and withdraws the lock-bars 5, as shown in Fig. 3. He then simultaneously slacks off all of the Connections 42 by releasing the drum 4:6. The weight of the load then throws out all of the pawls 41 from engagement -with' the ratchets 31 and forces down the aprons 12, the extreme position of the pontoons and aprons being shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2. It is evident, however, that these may in practice be restrained from swinging so far outboard by means of the chains 32. It will be seen that as the scow is towed in this position the faces of the aprons 12, as well as the sides 2 of the frame, will be washed and that the scow will clean herself of all floating refuse, which will escape at each side of the V-shaped ends 22. The operator then takes up the connection 412 to bring the pawls 41 in the paths of the ratchets 33, replaces the bars 5, drops the dogs 34, and draws the pontoons inboard to their operative position by successively turning the drums3l by means of the levers 35. As in the preferred form of construction shown, no buoyant space is inclosed by the aprons l2 and their braces 13, and as the eyebolts 15 are attached to the aprons 12 near their free edges one man is easily able to perform this operation of closing the scow. By placing the pivot-points of the block 1 and of the pawl 41 nearly in line with the point of the pawl when engaged, a slight strain of the connection 42 will serve to hold the pawl against the rachettooth, the bar 5 being provided as an additional precaution merely.

Figs. 1, 5, and 6 of the drawings show the scow as converted to a fiat-decked vessel for carrying building or other useful material. While it is clear that a large part of the framework shown in the earlier figures may be used, Ihave shown a different superstructure,

, consisting of cross-beams 6, to the ends of which the pontoons 1 are secured and to which the aprons 12 are also fastened by bolts 61, the eyebolts 15 having been first removed. As shown, the length of the beams 6 is such as to leave room between the aprons 12 for a fore-and-aft timber 62, also bolted beneath the beams 6. Suitable bulkheads 63 are bolted to the end beams 6 and may be used at any desired intermediatepoint. For convenience and to prevent denting or injuring the apron 12 a false deck 64: may be secured and side planks 65 of any desired height may be employed. As the scow thus mounted is not used for dumping, her upper works may overhang her catamaran-hull to any desired extent.

It is clear that the choice of material, as well as the form and arrangement of many parts of my device, may be varied within wide limits, that certain parts of my construction may be used'either separately from or in connection with certain others, and that, without enumerating equivalents, I do not limit my invention .to the construction shown and described.

What I claim is 1. A dump-scow comprising pontoons, a superstructure to which said pontoons are pivotally connected, and aprons rigidly secured to and extending laterally from said pontoons, and forming the bottom of the scow.

2. A dump-scow comprising pontoons, a superstructure having upwardly-extending sides and ends, to which said pontoons are pivotally connected, aprons rigidly secured to and extending laterally from said pontoons, and forming the bottom of the scow, and means adjacent said ends for detachably holding said aprons in contact therewith.

3. A dump-scow comprising pontoons, a superstructure to which said pontoons are pivotally connected, aprons rigidly secured to and extending laterally from said pontoons, and forming the bottom of the scow, a plurality of means for holding said aprons in position, and integral means for releasing said holding means.

1. A dump-scow comprising pontoons, a

superstructure to which said pontoons are pivotally connected, aprons rigidly secured to and extending laterally from said pontoons, and forming the bottom of the scow, a plurality of chains secured to said aprons, drums on which said chains are wound, means for holding said drums against rotation,'and integral means for releasing said drums.

5. A catamaran-scow comprising pontoons provided with laterally-extending aprons each of which is rigidly secured to one of said pontoons, a superstructure, and means for securing said aprons to said superstructure, so as to form the bottom thereof.

6. A catamaran-scow comprising pontoons provided with laterally-extending aprons each of which is rigidly secured to one of said pontoons, a superstructure and means for detachably securing said aprons to said superstructure, so as to form the bottom thereof.

7. A catamaran-scow comprising pontoons of approximately' cyl'indric form, a framework supported on said pontoons, pivotal connections between the sides of said framework and the peripheries of said pontoons, aprons rigidly secured to and extending tangentially from said pontoons, and means for detachably securing said aprons to said framework, so as to form the bottom thereof.

8. A pontoon for a catamaran-scow having rigidly secured therethrough a laterally-extending apron, in combination with a framework and means for pivotally securing said pontoon and for detachably securing said apron to said framework.

9. A pontoon for a catamaran-scow of apspeciiication in the presence of two subscriblng Witnesses. I

proximately cylindric cross-section having an CHARLES KUHN' 5 apron r gidly secured thereto and extending Witnesses:

tangentially therefrom. E. VAN ZANDT In testlrnony whereof I have signed this GEO. L. COOPE,R.

It is herehy certified that in Letters Patent No. 782,567, granted February 14:, 1905, upon the application of Charles Kuhn, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Scows, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 126, page 2, the word therethrough should read thereto; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of February, A. D. 1905.

. [SEAL.] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

pontoon and for detachably securing said apron to said framework.

9. A pontoon for a catamaran-scow of apspeciiication in the presence of two subscriblng Witnesses. I

proximately cylindric cross-section having an CHARLES KUHN' 5 apron r gidly secured thereto and extending Witnesses:

tangentially therefrom. E. VAN ZANDT In testlrnony whereof I have signed this GEO. L. COOPE,R.

It is herehy certified that in Letters Patent No. 782,567, granted February 14:, 1905, upon the application of Charles Kuhn, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Scows, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 126, page 2, the word therethrough should read thereto; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of February, A. D. 1905.

. [SEAL.] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 782,567, granted February 14, 1905, upon the application of Charles Kuhn, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Scows, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 126, page 2, the word therethrough should read thereto; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of February, A. D. 1905.

[SEAL] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents. 

